Tarun's Pov:
"God, this much anger." I voiced, as she looked at me.
From the past 30 min. I am here to convince my Chand that whatever she was thinking about her future studies is not wrong, and that we are not the kind of family that does not allow her to study.
"Tum abhi aese hi bol rahe ho, shadi ke baad sab badal jate hai, dekh le na tum bhi badal jao ge," she scowls.
("You're just saying that now, everyone changes after marriage, just wait, you'll change too.")
Such an overthinker she is.
Did I ever tell you that she looks even more beautiful in this cute scowl?
I bend towards her and give a quick peek at this most attractive part of her face. Of course, Lips. Her eyes widen, and she looks here and there, like we are not romancing but stealing something. Her grip on her file tightens more. She and her projects. She still submits the project file in college. And right now, we are both in the common room of the college.
There, gotcha, slight twitch on her lips.
"You like it?" My voice is low.
She shifted in her own place, and a sudden lock of our gaze made me out of control. This takes all my power not to kiss her, at least not here, where anyone can make our videos and go viral on the college local group.
With a deep sigh, I crane my neck to the other side.
"NO," her answer came.
"What? This eye contact or the peck?" I asked in all innocence. While my thoughts are at the peak of darkest mode. She huffs. And start gathering her stuff.
"Bye," she said with a tight-lipped smile.
"Such a boring Girlfriend you are." My voice came out like I just wanted to cry over my faith for giving me such an unromantic girl.
"So what do you want me to do?" she asked, all frustrated, while both of her hands folded over her chest.
Chest.
They are squeezing.
Hell.
Stop looking there. Tarun.
But she is all mine.
As she senses what I am looking at. She immediately put her hands down and looked at me with a glare.
Should I fear? No. Way.
But why is my inner self saying that this glare is not good for my existence? With a visible gulp, I open my mouth to say something, but halt in mid-way when she raises her hands to stop me.
"Either you are going, or I am not meeting you until you keep your eyes in your control." I wanted to chuckle at her audacity to threaten me.
Threatening Tarun Gautam. Huh.
Mummmaaaaa, save me pleasess.
She is looking very dangerous.
"Sorry," I mumble. Not to bend my ego.
" What, say it aloud?" this girl.
"Sorry," I said again, bending all my ego, because when you love someone, there is no ego left. But still there is ego left in you, then it simply means you are not loving that person. On my sorry, she smiles, like she won some war.
And I smile too because she smiles.
I step closer to her; she rooted in her place. I took one more step to get closer. Our bodies are just inches away.
"Ahem," Kanika's voice came to my ears.
Wrong time, sister.
I step back, and she immediately moves towards the office. Not before sparring a glance at me.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"You both took so much time," Mom huffed at us.
"Vo Mumma Trisha Bhabhi ke sath thoda busy the Bhai." Your books are definitely gone, Kanika.
(He was a bit busy with Trisha bhabhi)
"Nothing like that, Mom." Mom is looking at me with a sly smile on her face. No, Yaar Mumma, please don't look at me like this. I feel like my cheeks are red by now, under these sly smiles on Both's face.
"Fine. Think whatever you both want to." I move towards the stairs, enough of their smiles.
"Arey stop, I want to ask something very important." There is urgency in her voice. I turn back to ask, but... I hate my sister.
"Bhai, are you blushing!" she laughs like a maniac. And my mom also joins in her laughter.
"Fine ja raha hu mai." I scrunch my nose.
("Okay, I am going.")
"Acha acha ruk," my mom again stopped me. But her smile is not even reduced by an inch.
("Okay, okay, wait")
Not again.
"Listen, I know you both love each other," she said softly. I just nod at her words. A beautiful smile covers her face, along with mine. "Beta, now you both get married soon." In reflex, I nodded again, but quickly shook my head in big NO.
Not possible.
"No, Mom, this is so quick," I said to her. Her brows knit together. "And also, she is just 22." My mom raises a brow, challenging me. Just then, I realized that 22 is not too early. Ok, but still early for a woman who has dreams to fulfill, who wants to make her own image. Who wants to say, 'Wait, I will pay.' And My Chand wants to be an independent woman. If I love her, then I am supposed to support her in her dreams, not to be a hurdle in her path. I want to walk along with her.
Like her anchor. Not that hole that drowned the whole ship. "Ok, sorry Mumma, but she has dreams." As soon as I said this, her eyes softened with a proud smile. I don't know for whom, for her or me. But she looks very satisfied.
"I know, Bacche, and I am not that cruel mother-in-law," she reasoned. "But I talked to Panditji, he told me that in your kundali, there is some issue of marriage, so either you can get married in these 5 months, or you have to wait for the next 5 years." As she finished her sentence, my mind was in a haze. And only one thing on my mind.
What the actual fuck.
"Yaarrr, Mummy." I rub my palms over my face. "Kon manta hai aaj kal ke jamane me ye sab?" When will she understand this? All these are just superstitions, and just a business for all these pandit ji's.
("Yaarrr, Mom. Who believes in all this stuff these days?")
"jyada na drame mat kar. Aur mai manti hun. Bola na maine hum aaj sham ko Trisha ke ghar ja rahe hai bas." she declares. Then why did she stop me when she had already decided everything?
("Don't make too much drama. And I believe. Didn't I tell you, we are just going to Trisha's house this evening.")
"Yaar mummy please na, we believe in God, that's ok, we believe in Vastu, that is also ok, but not this now please. Stop this." My voice contains irritations. "And we are not going anywhere."
"Mai jinda hu abhi is ghar me. So, decisions will be mine on what to do or not," she said. And moved towards the kitchen. "Aur jab mai mar jaun na tab chala na apna hukum." Now, from where does this thing come?
("I am still alive in this house. So, the decisions will be mine about what to do or not. And when I die, then you can carry out your orders.")
I move towards my room for some files. The sooner I leave this house, the better it will be.
Karan' Pov:
"Pehle ye batao kis baat par naraz ho. Maine kab tum se rudely baat kari." This girl of mine surely made me crazy one day. I was coaxing her from past 1 hour. But she is so stubborn to listen to me.
(First, tell me what you're upset about. When did I ever talk to you rudely?)
Hiding her face in the crook of my neck. She spoke, "Tum ne bina emoji ke message kyun kiya fir?" I am done.
("Then why did you message without an emoji?")
Literally, she is beyond unbelievable. She is angry with me because I don't use emojis in chats.
"My lady, this is not fair," I continue Coaxing her. "You know that I never use emojis. And also, yesterday I was busy doing my pending work. Milady," she held her head up and looked at me like...
I don't know, but this scares me. And then all of a sudden.
"I love you," she said shyly; giggling, she hid her face in my neck again.
God.
This woman of mine.
Her lashes fluttering on my neck, I fist tightly. This is not working, Baby. I held her shoulders and slightly pushed her. "Stop this," maintaining eye contact, I urge her.
"What?" Confusion was evident on her face.
"Stop your butterfly kisses," I said, clearly audible. For once, her eyes widened in revelation. Oh my little Lady, I know you more than you.
"Tum, mujhe time nahi dete." What! Now, from where this topic came. Then, like a bullet shot it clicked me, it's the 28th of the month, she was on her PMS.
(You don't give me time.)
"My lady, I need to focus on work too, and as soon as I get time, I will come here for you," I replied to her. But seems like this does not work. Her eyes welled up with tears. God, no tears. She doesn't know how much her tears tear my heart apart.
"Shh, rona mat, nahi to yaha se chala jaunga," I threaten her, but instead of staying silent, she buried her face in my neck and let out a soft sigh.
("Shh, don't cry, otherwise I'll leave from here")
"Pata hai mummy bolti thi, ki meri shadi tumse karegi, aur mujhe wapas wahan ghar mein aane nahi degi." She let out a wet chuckle. "I annoyed them a lot," she exhales a deep, shaky breath. With a visible gulp, she continues. This... this situation I hate, I hate her like this. "But look, toady no one here to taunt me, to scold me." Her voice breaking.
(You know, Mom used to say that she would get me married to you, and she won't let me return to that house.)
A strange feeling cages my heart.
Guilt may be. Of course, when she needed me more, I was not with her. Not here to console her, to protect her, to shield her. This condition of hers is because of me.
The fire in my heart is blazing.
"I am sorry." Only these words came out. "I am sorry that I am not with you, I am not there with... you." She lifted her head, looked at me, with confusion. I let out the breath that I was holding.
"What?" she asks. "You are sorry for; you were not with me?" she asked in disbelief. I am just looking at her. She sighed and sat at a distance. As she pushes herself far. And suddenly, coldness covers the warmth of hers. That comfort, gone. Her eyes were distant.
"What happened, my lady?" I murmur, getting closer to her. Snuggle my face in the crook of her neck. And inhale her fragrance.
Home.
Just one thing came to my mind whenever I am near her. She feels like home. Her fragrance fills all the wounds. Her vanilla fragrance calms my nerves.
"You blame yourself when the condition is not in your favor." her voice came distant; is she getting offended?
"But still, I have to be here, with you." I am staring at our tangled hands. She again tries to free her hands from mine. But this time I hold her more tightly. Looking into her eyes, shook my head in no, not even dare to go away from me. She interprets my unspoken words.
"Karan..." she starts, "why... you think that this all has happened because of you? Huh?" she continues. "Can you stop that accident? Can you bring my parents back? Can you stop that war?" She is throwing all the questions one by one. I shook my head.
"Then how can you think that this all happened because of you. You were there, posted on the border, fighting with death, fighting for us." Her eyes are shimmering with pride. And helplessness in the next moment. When she notices that I am not interested in her words.
"Sanjana, I am bored of listening to these praises, please, tum mat shuru ho jao." I urge her.
"Karan, this praise of ours is the only way to convey our gratitude towards you," she stated. "And please, for my sake, stop blaming yourself. You cannot do anything. That was god's decision." How can she still be that positive, that optimistic? "That... that was just, I am missing them. And I have a right to miss them. Isn't it?" she asked. I nodded, a smile crept up on my face after listing this small creature of mine.
"But if I were there, you would never suffer with panic attacks," I spoke. My smile faltered for seconds. Just then, she giggles. I immediately look at her. "What's so funny?" I arch my brow.
"Nothing," she shook her head, but giggling. "Vo," she points at me, "you look too cute." She pecks my nose. And again giggle. Such a kid she is.
"Mood swings ki maha rani," I spoke. "Kya hoga yaar tumhara."
(The queen of mood swings. What will happen to you, man?)
"Kya hoga! tum ho na" she said, as she owns me, well, she did. "Acha, on a serious note. Agar tum hote na to bhi shayd panic attacks nahi rok pate."
("What will happen! You're here, right? Okay, on a serious note. Even if you weren't here, maybe I still couldn't stop the panic attacks.")
"Kyun?" I asked.
(Why?)
"Because the doctor said, panic attacks are normal, when your mind thinks a lot, and the state when you feel helpless. Stressed. Major emotional damage. So yeah. It happens anytime. Don't take the load and especially don't blame yourself," as soon as she finished. I tilted my head towards her face, her eyes shimmering with mischief. And I know what, her next move will be.
Before she could run away, I grabbed her wrist. Her eyes widened in horror. "Jaan, I know more than you," I whispered in her ear. She made a sweet little pout. Which I capture in my lips. Her lips; so soft, so delicate. Like Patels. She tastes like sweet candy. My rough one is moving in sync with her soft one. She is also trying to match my speed. I am sucking her lower lip; meanwhile, she is nibbling my upper one. She is getting expert. As I slide my lips on her for seeking permission to enter. My phone interrupts us. That soft music now sounds like venom. We both abruptly stop. She was panting, so I was. I immediately picked up my call.
"Hello, sir." On the other side, my senior manager's voice came.
"Are you coming or not, Major Grover?" sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"On the way, sir, I was just stuck in traffic." I ended the call and gave a quick kiss on her forehead. She smiles wider. That makes me too.
"So am I the traffic," she said. Her eyes are all red because of crying. But the tint on her cheeks, making her too cute, well, she changed her figure. But still, she is my cute little lady.
"Of course, you are my World." I give her an assurance smile. Her eyes shone from my answer.
Kanika's Pov:
I am still wondering if Luca Pacioli didn't make these Golden rules of accounting, then I will be the one. Right now, I am in the library. My fingers are dancing on this small calculator. People say that is the easiest stream. Haan haan, paper mein sirf numbers hi toh hote hain. Easy lagta hai na?
Lekin zara ek baar 'trial balance doesn't match' ka dard feel karo.
Zara ek baar P&L banate waqt suspense account ka bhatakti aatma dekho.
Accounting sirf numbers nahi, woh ek puzzle hai — jisme har figure ka meaning hai.
Ek galti, aur poora balance sheet flying kiss deta hai.
Jo log kehte hain ki mein kuch nahi hota — unko ek baar final accounts banana de do bina calculator ke. Tab pata chalega 'as it is balance hona' ka sukoon kya hota hai.
(Yeah yeah, there are only numbers in the paper, right? Sounds easy, doesn't it? But just once, feel the pain of 'trial balance doesn't match.' Just once, see the wandering soul of the suspense account while preparing the P&L. Accounting is not just numbers, it's a puzzle — where every figure has a meaning. One mistake, and the entire balance sheet gives a flying kiss. Those who say nothing happens in — just let them prepare final accounts once without a calculator. Then they'll understand the peace of 'being perfectly balanced.')
Accounting is not easy.
It demands logic, patience, and eyes sharper than a CA result cut-off. Toh agle baar jab koi bole ' toh aaram ka course hai'...
(So next time when someone says ' is an easy course'...)
Unse kehna — 'Aao kabhi ledger ke jungle mein!'"
(Tell them — 'Come sometime into the jungle of the ledger!')
"Kanika Gautam," my librarian called me, but has anyone ever told a librarian that you shouldn't speak loudly in the library?
"Yes, ma'am," I step aside with her.
"Stop making noise with your stupid calculator." Ouch. You can talk badly about me, but not about my calculator. I held my hands up. To stop her from using her stupid, bad words.
"With all due respect, ma'am, you cannot talk badly about my calculator. I am going outside if you and these students are getting disturbed." I finished and moved outside.
How dare they? She should tell me to go outside, and I will step outside, but they directly said bad words to my calculator. I was walking recklessly. Suddenly, I bump into something, sorry, someone. ughhh. Kutta, shakl aaine me dekhta hai ki nahi, bakare jesi dadi hai iski.
(Does the dog look at its face in the mirror or not? It has a beard like a goat.)
Fuck, I should keep a distance from Sanjana Bhabhi. My language is getting worse, day by day. But I didn't say anything wrong about this Ronie.
"Hey! Are you lost, Babygirl?" Chiiiii. Aahhh Thuuu.
I barely smiled and spoke, "Excuse me"
"Excused." Before I moved, he spoke. "By the way you are looking all..." he moves both his hands from my head to toe. "beautiful," really, I thought he would say something new, the way he took time seemed just like that. At least. "Hey Kanika, we meet often, shall we exchange numbers?"
"No, I like mine, thank you," and like that, I flip my hair and move from there. I want to tell this interaction to Yug, so that I can enjoy the cute, jealous expression on his face.
I take a deep breath; I don't know why, but his mere name makes me all excited or something I can't put into words. He is something else when he talks to me and when he talks to others. He is not like what he shows to the world. I just wanted to know about his inner self. I don't know why, but this is the first time that I'm that nosy in someone's life. Just then, my phone's ping sound makes me look at the lock screen.
It's Him.
Yug.
He sent me videos. It means he landed. I quickly open her chat box and download his video. As I play his stupidly Handsome grin appears on the screen**.**
"Heyyy princess, I know that you are waiting for my call or message. But your Prince just landed here, and I've learned that the meeting will start in one hour. So, I just messaged you. Look." He switches his camera to the back. "This is my room, and here I had a little breakfast," he again switches the camera, and again his signature smile has appeared. "Actually, the thing is, I don't want to live this alone from now on. I will be with you either virtually or in person. Ok then, as you told me to do some work. I asked that asshole, sorry that Parth," he made an ugly face. I giggle at his reaction, "he told me everything about the meeting, so please wish me luck, Princess. Your Beloved Prince is waiting for your reply. One more thing, I love you," and just like that, the video finished. But why, I want to see him more. I want to see his smile. I don't know that I am watching his video with a smile on my face.
I fastly type All the best and with a normal smile emoji. His reply came instantly.
"I love you."
"Thank you," I answered.
"Ahh, but that is also enough. Ok then, talk to you after the meeting." Here I was standing in the middle of the garden, and this... arghh, this person has gone offline.
Well, Kanii, you are the one who told him to focus on work.
He has full confidence that he will make me fall in love. I chuckled at his assumptions.
"Kanikaaa." Just then, I heard Sanjana Bhabhi's voice. From afar. I sprint towards her. "Why were you smiling while looking at your phone. Don't tell me that you are reading that bed scene in the middle of the garden."
"Nooo. Bhabhi. "She definitely needs a filter.
"Good because it needs some privacy, because it makes butterflies with high on Hormone, then need to calm them down, you know by yourself."
"BHABHIIII," I yell at the choice of her words. Who revealed this? "Uffff. How will my bhai tolerate you"
"Oh, he has no choice." I laugh at her.
" You know I roast Ronnie in my mind today, and when he asked for exchanging numbers, I said I like mine." I am feeling proud of myself.
"Good process, my Kanii. " Keep it up," she pats my shoulder. And like this, we walk towards my car. Today we want to buy some new books.
She is cooler than Trisha Bhabhi, because Trisha Bhabhi is some kind of serious, and here she is all like a butterfly, bubbly, baby kind.
✿❀ ❀✿
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Hope you all are enjoying the book. <3
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